Apparatus for treating roll film or the like in liquid baths

ABSTRACT

Developing apparatus for exposed photographic roll film wherein the tank accommodates one or more skeleton frames each supporting a set of upper and lower guide rolls defining a meandering path along which the film is conveyed during transport through the developing solution. The first and last guide rolls are disposed below and are spaced from roller-shaped deflectors each of which twists the film through 90* and causes the film to change the direction of its travel. The deflectors render it possible to convey roll film through successive tanks which are placed sideby-side rather than end-to-end. The skeleton frames in a single tank may be placed side-by-side to define discrete meandering paths which are laterally adjacent to each other or end-to-end to define discrete meandering paths which are disposed end-to-end.

United States Patent Kwiatkowski [4 1 Sept."l9, 19.72

[ APPARATUS FOR TREATING ROLL 2,461,419 2/1949 Forgett ..95/94 R FILM OR THE LIKE IN LIQUID BATI-IS 3,430,548 3/1969 Jiruskam, ..95/94 R [72] Inventor: Wolfgang Kwiatkowski, Unter- P i Exminer samuel S. Matthews hachmg Germany Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun [73] Assignee: Agia-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft, Attorney-Michael S. Striker Leverkusen, Germany 221 Filed: Sept. 8, 1910 [57] ABSTRACT Developing apparatus for exposed photographic roll [21] 704,49 film wherein the tank accommodates one or more skeleton frames each supporting'a set of upper and [30] Foreign Application Priority Data lower guide rolls defining a meandering path along which the film is'conveyed during transport through Sept 1969 Germany 45 688'9 the developing solution. The first and last guide rolls are disposed below and are spaced from roller-shaped (g1. deflectors each of which twists the film through 90 [58] Fie'u A 4 and causes the film to change the direction of its c g travel. The deflectors render it possible to convey roll film through successive tanks which are placed side- [56] References cited I by-side rather than end-to-end. The skeleton frames in UNITED STATES PATENTS a single tank may be placed side-by-side to define discrete meandering paths WhlCh are laterally adjacent to 1,890,026 12/1932 Barkelew ..95/94 R each other or end to end to define discrete meander 1,933,127 10/ 1933 Thompson ..95/94 R X ing paths which are disposed end to end. 2,079,849 5/1937 Gerb ..95/94 R 3,575,100 4/1971 Krause ..95/94 R 4 Claims; 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEH EH IQR 3 691 92s o l {P -,5!

.l i V I I l 1 3 O O O O IN VEN TOR WOLFGANG KWIAT KOWSKI APPARATUS FOR TREATING ROLL FILM. OR THE LIKE IN LIQUID BATHS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for treating webs of sheet material in liquid baths, particularly for conveying long stretches of exposed roll fil through developing solutions or the like.

It is already known to unite a large number of exposed roll films end-to-end into a-very long web which is thereupon conveyed through one or more liquid baths, for example, through'baths containing water, developing, fixing or like solutions. As a rule, such elongated webs are conveyed along meandering paths defined by sets of upper and lower guide rollers :which are installed in relatively deep and-rather narrow vessels or tanks. If the web is very long,'two or more tanks are placed end-to-end and the rollers are disposed in such a way that they define a discrete-meandering path in each of the successive tanks. Thus, the web simply meanders in a vertically extending space from tank to tank and in successive tanks so that its center (namely, a line extending lengthwise midway between the two marginal portions of the web) remains in a predetermined vertical plane. The length of intervals during which each increment of the web must remain in the liquid bath depends on the nature of treatment and on the nature of film and liquid. Thus, the capacity of such apparatus can be increased either by raising the speed of travel of the web (which, of course, necessitates the provision of a large number of tanks disposed end-toend) or by simultaneously conveying two or more webs along adjacent paths. The first mentioned solution is often impractical because the number of tanks (and hence the overall length of the apparatus) cannot be increased at will; therefore, the speed of lengthwise travel normally cannot exceed a predetermined speed because undue lengthening of the apparatus increases the initial and maintenance cost beyond an economically acceptable value. The second proposal is also not the best solution of increasing the capacity of developing apparatus for roll film because conventional tanks are not designed to accommodate several webs which travel side-by-side and also because wide tanks are often hard to manipulate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for treatment of elongated webs in liquid baths, particularly in apparatus for conveying very long stretches of exposed photographic roll film through developing and like solutions, whose capacity can be increased without unduly increasing its dimensrons.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can utilize conventional tanks or analogous vessels or receptacles for the liquid medium.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus wherein substantial lengths of web material can be accommodated and transported in a small area without affecting the treatment which the web material undergoes during travel through the liquid medium.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whose capacity is a multiple, but whose length need not exceed the length, of conventional apparatus for development of exposed roll films or the like.

Still another object of theinvention is to provide an apparatus whose capacity can be rapidly and conveniently increased or reduced to suit the momentary requirements and wherein the travelling webs are treated at least as gently as in present y known apparatus.

The invention is-embodied in an apparatus for the treatmentof the elongated webs, particularly for conveying exposed photographic roll:film of substantial length through a developing solution and/or one or more other liquid media. The apparatus comprises a liquid-containing vessel which can include a single elongated tank or two or more discrete tanks-placed side-by-side, guide means mounted at least partially in the interior of the vessel and defining for the webs a meandering path having inlet and outlet I ends preferably located well below the top level of liquid in the vessel, deflector means including one or more preferably roller shaped deflectors each adjacent to one end of the meandering path for twisting and simultaneously changing the direction of the webs, and drive means for moving webs along themeandering path and along and beyond the deflectors whereby the webs travel first over one of the deflectors, thereupon along the meandering path and finally over the other deflector. Each deflector can cooperate with a deflector in an adjacent tank or vessel to again twist and change the direction of webs so that such webs can enter or leave a second meandering path which is parallel to and laterally adjacent to or arranged end-to-end with the first meandering path. Theguide means preferably comprises guide rolls and each deflector is preferably mounted in such a way that it has a common tangent with the guide roll at the respective end of the corresponding meandering path.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an apparatus which embodies one form of the invention, the section being taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a second apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a third apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an apparatus which is used to treat elongated webs 6 of photographic roll film by conveying the webs through a developing solution and/or one or more other liquids. FIG. 1 shows a first elongated receptacle or tank 1 which forms part of a composite vessel including four elongated tanks 1, 7, 8, 9 disposed side-by-side in a manner as shown in FIG. 2. The tank 1 is at least partially filled with a developing solution which is assumed to extend to the level A-A shown in FIG. 1. This tank that their axes are normal to the longitudinal direction of the tank 1 and that they define for the web a meandering or sinuous path the inlet end of which is located at the leftmost roll 3 and the outlet end of which is located at the rightmost roll 3. The rolls '2, 3 are mounted in a skeleton frame, schematically indicated by the broken line F, which is immersed into the body of liquid in the tankl and can be separably or permanently secured to one or more walls of the tank. Also, the frame F can be provided with hooks or the like which render it possible to suspend it on the tank 1 so that at least the lower guide rolls 3 dip into the liquid. The frame F preferably further carries the components of the drive means for the 'rolls'2 and/or 3. Such drive means includes the shafts 2a and/or 3a for the rolls 2, 3 and preferably one or more gear trains, worm drives or chain drives which transmit torque between such shafts to insure that all of the rolls rotate at the. same peripheral speed. The drive means is preferably of the variable-speed type. The 'frame F is preferably assembled of rods, bars, strips or the like to permit substantially free circulation of liquid in the tank 1.

The web 6 which is caused to travel along the meandering path defined by the guide rolls 2 and 3 remains in a vertical space which is flanked by the side walls of the'tank l and the web alternately passes over the lower and upper guide rolls while moving in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 further comprises novel deflector means which renders it possible 'toitransport the web 6 along several meandering paths which are parallel to each other and are disposed side-by-side rather than end-to-end as in presently known apparatus. The deflector means comprises a first horizontal deflector roller 4 which is mounted directly above or close to the upper end of the tank 1 and whose axis is normal to and crosses inspace with the axes of the guide rolls 2 and 3. The roller 4 is mounted on the frame F, directly on the tank 1 or on a separate support in such a way that it is located at one side of the central longitudinal vertical symmetry plane 8-8 of the tank 1 (see F IG. 2). Such mounting renders it possible that the roller 4 and the guide roll 3 at the inlet end of the meandering path in the tank 1 have a common vertical tangent T which is normal to the axes of the rolls 2, 3 and roller 4. The roller 4 serves to guide the web 6 on its way from a source (e.g., a bobbin or reel, not shown) and to twist or turn the web through 90 during travel between the roller 4 and the leftmost lower roll 3. The tangent T touches the peripheries ofthe deflector roller 4 and of the leftmost guide roll 3 midway between their respective axial ends. Thus, the center of the web 6 travels along the tangent T and thereupon in the central vertical symmetry plane 8-8 of the tank 1.

The deflector means further comprises a second deflector roller whose axis is parallel to the axis of the roller 4 but which is located at the other side of the symmetry plane 8-8 (see FIG. 2). The tangent T' is common to the peripheries of the roller 5 and the rightmost guide roll 3 at the outlet end of the meandering path in the tank 1. The purpose of the roller 5 is to twist the web through 90 and to guide it in a horizontal plane toward the periphery of a third deflector roller 12 which is associated with the next tank 7 and is .located at a level above the inlet end of the meandering path in the tank 7.v As shown in FIG. 2, the roller 12 has a common vertical tangent with the guide roll 3 at the inlet end of the meandering path in the tank7. A further deflector roller 13 serves to twist the web 6 through 90 on its way from the outlet end of the meandering path in the tank 7 and to direct the thus twisted toward a deflector roller 13a above the inlet end of the meandering path in the third tank 8. The arrangement of guide rolls and deflector rollers in the tanks 8, 9 is the same as described in connection with the tank 1; it will be seen that the outlet end of the meandering path in each preceding tankis laterally adjacent to the inlet end of the meandering path in the next following path.

The deflector rollers 5, 12 can be replaced with a single deflector roller of greater diameter which can have a common tangent with the rightmost roll 3 in the tank 1 and the rightmost roll 3 in the tank 7. The same holds true for the deflector rollers 13, 13a and for other pairs of similarly positioned deflector rollers. The distance which the web 6 must cover outside of the liquid bath between the deflector rollers 5-l2, 1343a, etc., is rather short; it normally equals the width of a tank 1, 7, 8m 9. The'deflector roller 13x above the outlet end of the meandering path in the last tank 9 directs the developed web 6 into a drying chamber 10 of any known design wherein the web can be transported in the same way as shown for the tank 1, and the dried web 6 is thereupon rolled up in a takeup device or collecting means 11 of known design. It is clear that the takeup device 11 can be preceded or replaced by another device, for example, by a polishing device which employs calendar rolls or the like. I

If the length of intervals which are necessary to maintain each increment of a web 6 in the developing solution is less than that required to transport the web through one, two, three or more tanks, at least one of the tanks can be provided with'a transverse vertical partition (see the partition 20 in the tank 7 of FIG. 2) which divides the interior of the respective tank into two discrete compartments only one of which is then filled with the developing solution. Moreover, the left compartment of the tank 7 may contain a body of water which is used for washing of developed increments of the web and the right-hand compartment of the tank 7 may contain another liquid which is employed to subject the developed and washed web to a further treatment. As a rule, the washing of successive increments of a developed photographic film requires much less time than the developing process.

It is equally-within the purview of the present invention to utilize tanks of double width. For example, the tanks 1, 7 of FIG. 2 can be replaced with a single receptacle or tank whose length equals that of the tank 1 or 7 but whose width equals the combined width of these tanks. The modified tank can accommodate a modified frame with two guide means including two sets of upper guide rolls 2 and two sets of lower guide rolls 3 as well as a deflector means including the rollers 4, 5, 12 and 13. This enables the web to travel in the wide tank along a first meandering path in a first direction from one end toward the other end of the tank and thereupon along' a second meandering path in a direction -from the other toward the one end of the wide tank.

Such wide tanks can often be produced at a fraction of the combined cost of two narrower'tanks. Wide tanks will be employed if each tank of the apparatus is to contain a different liquid and if the length of intervals necessary to maintain each increment of a web in a particular liquid exceeds the length of intervals during which the increments remain in a narrow tank (such as the tank 1 or 7) while the web is to travel lengthwise at a reasonable speed.

The just described modification is somewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 3 which employs a relatively wide tank 14 so that the guide means in the tank 14 can define two'discrete meandering paths, one for a first web 6a and the other for a second web 6b. The mountingof deflector rollers is analogous tothat shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The numeral denotes a skeleton frame which can support a single guide means or each of the two guide means. It is preferred to employ two discrete frames 15 and 16 each of which can be dimensioned in the same way as the aforementioned frame F so that it can beused in the tank 14 or in tanks of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, the length of the frames 15', 16 is somewhat less than the length of the tank 14, and these frames are offset or staggered with reference to each other, as considered in the longitudinal direction of the tank 14, preferably at least by the width of a web 611 or 6b. Such mounting of the frames 15, 16 insures that the webs 6a, 6b can travel next to each other, in the tank 14 as well as during travel into and from'the respective meandering path, without touching each other. The tank 14 can form part of a composite vessel which includes one or more similar tanks or a single tank 14 and one or more tanks of the type shown in FIG. 1 or 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a further apparatus wherein a tank 17 of substantial length accommodates two skeleton frames 18, 19 which are disposed end-toend and each of which carries guide rolls defining a separate meandering path for the web 6c or 6d. The frames 18, 19 may but need not be of identical length. Each of these frames carries two deflector rollers 20, 21. Tanks and frames of the type shown in FIG. 4 are particularly suited for use in developing apparatus wherein the fresh developing solution is admitted at both ends of the tank (see the pipes 22) and is withdrawn in a central zone of the tank (pipe 23).

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be recalled that the rollers 5-12, 13-l3a, etc., can be replaced with a single deflector roller of greater diameter. if the web 6 is rather narrow, each such pair of rollers 5-12, 1343a, etc., can be replaced with a single roller whose diameter need not substantially exceed the diameter of the roller 5, 12, 13 or 13a. If such deflector rollers are used, the guide rolls 3 at the ends of the meandering path in the respective tank are preferably mounted for rotation about slightly inclined axes to thereby insure more satisfactory guidance of the web along the desired path. if the rollers 5, 12, for example, are replaced with a single deflector roller, the latter is preferably mounted in such a way that its axis is located in the plane between the tanks 1 and '7. If the guide rolls 2, 3 in the tank 1 are properly inclined, the deflectors 4, 5 can be mounted for rotation about a common axis.

An advantage of the improved apparatus is that the reel (not shown) whichsupplies the web (for example, theweb 6 to the deflector 4 of FIG. 2) need not be placed in line with the takeup device (see the device 11 of FIG. 2). Also, a very large supply of roll film or the like can be treated in a small area, especially in a relatively short area.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

' What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In an apparatus for transporting elongated webs through a liquid medium, a combination comprising first and second elongated tanks disposed side-by-side; first and second guide means respectively defining in said first and second tanks first and second meandering paths each having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of said first path being adjacent to the inlet end of said second path and said paths being located in substantially parallel and substantially vertical planes, each of said guide means including a set of substantially parallel guide rolls having axes substantially normal to the plane of the respective path and each of said sets of guide rolls including two end rolls located at the ends of the respective path; first and second skeleton frames respectively mounted in said first and second tanks and respectively supporting said first and second guide means; deflector means including a pair of aligned rollers having axes which are at least substantially parallel to said planes and at least substantially normal to the axes of said rolls, one of said rollers and the end roll at the outlet end of said first path having a first common tangent which is at least substantially normal to the axes of said one roller and said last mentioned end roll, the other of said rollers and the end roll at the inlet end of said second path having a second common tangent which is at least substantially normal to the axes of said other roller and said last mentioned end roll, said one and said other roller being respectively mounted on said first and second frames and said deflector means further including third and fourth rollers respectively mounted on said first and second frames and having axes which are at least substantially parallel to said planes, said third roller and the end roll at the inlet end of said first path having a third common tangent which is at least substantially normal to the axes of said third .roller and said last mentioned end roll, said fourth roller and the end roll at the outlet end of said second path having a fourth common tangent which is at least substantially normal to the axes of said fourth roller and said last mentioned end roll; and drive means for rotating at least one roll of each of said guide means in a direction to transport webs over said third roller, along said first path, over said one roller and said other roller, along said second path, and over said fourth roller whereby the webs are twisted through substantially during travel from said third roller toward the end roll at the inlet end of said first path, from the end roll at the outlet end of first path toward said one roller, from said other roller toward the end roll at the inlet end of said second path,and from the end roll at the outlet end of said second path toward said fourth roller.

I 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said guide means includes upper and lower guide rolls, said lower guide rolls including said end rolls and i said rollers being located above the ends of the respecing at least one transverse partition in at least one of said tanks. 

1. In an apparatus for transporting elongated webs through a liquid medium, a combination comprising first and second elongated tanks disposed side-by-side; first and second guide means respectively defining in said first and second tanks first and second meandering paths each having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of said first path being adjacent to the inlet end of said second path and said paths being located in substantially parallel and substantially vertical planes, each of said guide means including a set of substantially parallel guide rolls having axes substantiaLly normal to the plane of the respective path and each of said sets of guide rolls including two end rolls located at the ends of the respective path; first and second skeleton frames respectively mounted in said first and second tanks and respectively supporting said first and second guide means; deflector means including a pair of aligned rollers having axes which are at least substantially parallel to said planes and at least substantially normal to the axes of said rolls, one of said rollers and the end roll at the outlet end of said first path having a first common tangent which is at least substantially normal to the axes of said one roller and said last mentioned end roll, the other of said rollers and the end roll at the inlet end of said second path having a second common tangent which is at least substantially normal to the axes of said other roller and said last mentioned end roll, said one and said other roller being respectively mounted on said first and second frames and said deflector means further including third and fourth rollers respectively mounted on said first and second frames and having axes which are at least substantially parallel to said planes, said third roller and the end roll at the inlet end of said first path having a third common tangent which is at least substantially normal to the axes of said third roller and said last mentioned end roll, said fourth roller and the end roll at the outlet end of said second path having a fourth common tangent which is at least substantially normal to the axes of said fourth roller and said last mentioned end roll; and drive means for rotating at least one roll of each of said guide means in a direction to transport webs over said third roller, along said first path, over said one roller and said other roller, along said second path, and over said fourth roller whereby the webs are twisted through substantially 90* during travel from said third roller toward the end roll at the inlet end of said first path, from the end roll at the outlet end of said first path toward said one roller, from said other roller toward the end roll at the inlet end of said second path, and from the end roll at the outlet end of said second path toward said fourth roller.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said guide means includes upper and lower guide rolls, said lower guide rolls including said end rolls and said rollers being located above the ends of the respective paths.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said rollers and said rolls have cylindrical web-engaging peripheral surfaces.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one transverse partition in at least one of said tanks. 